Coach Corner – Steve Kerr

Steve Kerr is one of the newest, and unexperienced coaches in the NBA, but he has already won two championships in three seasons, and made it to the Finals three years in a row.

Though the Warriors were his first coaching job ever, it definitely wasn’t the first time he had thought about coaching. Years before, Jeff van Gundy had already advised him to develop his own coaching philosophy and rules, which he did. When Kerr decided he wanted a coaching position, the logical step would have been to follow Phil Jackson, his mentor, to New York. But, at the same time, the Warriors fired their head coach Mark Jackson, and a spot opened up for Kerr in California, which he took.

That was back in 2014, and he immediately turned the Golden State Warriors into the best team in the NBA. Though he continued on the same path as Mark Jackson, the coach before him, Kerr did make some drastic changes in the starting line-up. In the previous seasons, Andre Iguodala and David Lee were both starters, but Kerr didn’t think that was the best move for the team. Instead of those two players, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green moved into the starting line-up.

That was quite interesting, as Barnes hadn’t played all that well the season before, but Kerr thought that his skills would really blossom with the Warriors. In Iguodala’s case, it might have been even more surprising, as it would be the first time in his career that Iguodala would come off the bench (and he was already in his 10th season in the NBA). But, Kerr explained it quite well, and he made Iguodala the leader of the second unit. Furthermore, Kerr’s decision to Put Green in was effective as well, as he has become the heart of the defense of the Warriors. At one point in the last three years, he even got a triple double without points, so with rebounds, steals and assists.

Kerr’s goal is to empower his players, and letting them play the best they can, and he has shown that in multiple ways. Recently, in a game against the Phoenix Suns, he decided to let his players coach the team, and it was quite successful. Again, this is another way to empower the players and give them the freedom to make choices for the team and decide on which play they should use.

Besides that, Kerr is quite good with his players as well. First, he got Iguodala to understand that he would be better off in the second unit, and he also knows just how to motivate his players. Last season, the NBA captured several moments where Kerr talked to Curry, telling him it is supposed to be difficult, and that he’s still impacting the team, even if Curry isn’t always making every shot. This, again, shows how Kerr tries to empower his players to get them to play the best they can.

This season, the team is on a roll again, which means they will probably make it to the Finals once again. That would be four Finals appearances in four years for Kerr and the Warriors. If he keeps it up, Kerr might end up as one of the most successful coaches in NBA history

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Steve Kerr is one of the newest, and unexperienced coaches in the NBA, but he has already won two championships in three seasons, and made it to the Finals three years in a row.

Though the Warriors were his first coaching job ever, it definitely wasn’t the first time he had thought about coaching. Years before, Jeff van Gundy had already advised him to develop his own coaching philosophy and rules, which he did. When Kerr decided he wanted a coaching position, the logical step would have been to follow Phil Jackson, his mentor, to New York. But, at the same time, the Warriors fired their head coach Mark Jackson, and a spot opened up for Kerr in California, which he took.

That was back in 2014, and he immediately turned the Golden State Warriors into the best team in the NBA. Though he continued on the same path as Mark Jackson, the coach before him, Kerr did make some drastic changes in the starting line-up. In the previous seasons, Andre Iguodala and David Lee were both starters, but Kerr didn’t think that was the best move for the team. Instead of those two players, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green moved into the starting line-up.

That was quite interesting, as Barnes hadn’t played all that well the season before, but Kerr thought that his skills would really blossom with the Warriors. In Iguodala’s case, it might have been even more surprising, as it would be the first time in his career that Iguodala would come off the bench (and he was already in his 10th season in the NBA). But, Kerr explained it quite well, and he made Iguodala the leader of the second unit. Furthermore, Kerr’s decision to Put Green in was effective as well, as he has become the heart of the defense of the Warriors. At one point in the last three years, he even got a triple double without points, so with rebounds, steals and assists.

Kerr’s goal is to empower his players, and letting them play the best they can, and he has shown that in multiple ways. Recently, in a game against the Phoenix Suns, he decided to let his players coach the team, and it was quite successful. Again, this is another way to empower the players and give them the freedom to make choices for the team and decide on which play they should use.

Besides that, Kerr is quite good with his players as well. First, he got Iguodala to understand that he would be better off in the second unit, and he also knows just how to motivate his players. Last season, the NBA captured several moments where Kerr talked to Curry, telling him it is supposed to be difficult, and that he’s still impacting the team, even if Curry isn’t always making every shot. This, again, shows how Kerr tries to empower his players to get them to play the best they can.

This season, the team is on a roll again, which means they will probably make it to the Finals once again. That would be four Finals appearances in four years for Kerr and the Warriors. If he keeps it up, Kerr might end up as one of the most successful coaches in NBA history